Water Feature Design Series 7 | Wetland Filter Basics | Bog Filter Basics
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Want to know why wetland filters are awesome? Want to know what wetland filters are made of? Want to know how wetland filters work? Wetland Filter Basics is going to answer all of those questions for you. Part 7 Of the Water Feature Design Series is our most basic video on wetland filtration and this is where you should start your learning journey on wetland filtration. The next video in the series will explain how we lay out a wetland filter design and then how we build one.
Modern Design Aquascaping has been building custom water features since 2000 and has been a Certified Aquascape Contractor since 2002. They have built in 6 countries, and over a dozen states in the U.S. They specialize in custom projects that change the way people spend time together outdoors. You may reach John in East Tennessee at:
PHONE-(865)995-1234
WEB-www.MDAquascaping.com
FaceBook: Modern Design Aquascaping
UA-cam: / moderndesignaquascapin...
The UA-cam channel is geared towards education on proper construction methods for water features and highlights many cool projects that the Modern Design Aquascaping team gets to be a part of!
Happy Pondering ;) - Навчання та стиль
Is this system all one would need to keep a roughly 300,000 litre swimming pond clear of sediment?
hi thanx for the great video im in vancouver canada im buiding 2 ponds how much is the centipede and snorkel and where can i buy in canada please thanx joe
Aquascapes Canada is a thing! They have a warehouse there. My friend Chuck works with them, give it a Google👍😎
Hi Joe,
Just happened to read your comment. I own Fontana ponds and water features based in Abbotsford. We are a certified aquascape contractor in the Vancouver and Fraser Valley area.
You can get snorkel and centipedes from a few different places in Vancouver. Burnco landscape center in Langley
Northwest landscape supply in Burnaby or bricks and blocks north Vancouver.
Good luck with your ponds and if you need any professional help feel free to contact us.
Fontanawaterfeatures.ca
@fontanwaterfeatures Instagram
Fontana ponds and water features on UA-cam
Thanks
Diego
Great video John! Do you recommend using the large Aquablox generally?
I usually use the small blocks now. I tend to prefer the large blocks in my intake bay design and the smalls for my wetlands.
John is it better to use the large aqua blocks or the small aqua blocks won't that limit the size and thickness of the gravel layer and reduce the efficiency of the filter?
I have used both. No noticeable difference (other than more digging and more expense for the large ones). I think that regular cleaning and not using crazy plants are the factors that are more important.
That stuff is so gd expensive, make your own for a fraction of the price
Yes sir-there is that. Making it yourself and doing the work yourself is much more cost effective! That is a great idea for a channel, you should go for it. It would be very helpful for many people who want what we do but cannot afford to pay professionals to install it!
Is there a chance the Aqua blocks can become clogged? Since they are covered with tons of rock, apparently you would need to remove all of that rock. Is the Aqua block part necessary, or could you just put the large rock over the centipede tube, then the smaller stuff as normal?
Aquablocks can become clogged if the filter is neglected, plants are allowed to take over, or too small of aggregate is used. Old systems we built “pre-Aquablocks” have all been dismantled and re-built. They are un-cleanable without the blocks. Proper aggregate sizing / placement in addition to the Aquablocks allows for a proper cleaning and a system that will last!
hi, i am from india and i don't have any aquascape contractor here, but i want to build a very small aquascape ecosystem recreation pond in a very small backyard. I have learnt as much i could through videos, blogs and books . But i have some small concerns related to particular topography of the area and how to design it for that. So, can you just help me by connecting through any social media like facebook, whatsapp or email and answer few questions that i have regarding this?
Can you reach out through our website and my wife will arrange for us to have a conversation? We can speak over messenger!
Is it possible to have the wetland filter above the pond so it flows down naturally as a waterfall? So the water percolates up 10-20 feet naturally? I don’t see why not but you never know.
Yes, it is a normal practice to make wetland above the pond level to create a waterfall return!!
I you pump water into the centipede, shouldn't it come out of the snorkel before it filtrates back up? wouldn't the water pressure be higher in the pond to keep the filter from working?
Mr. Duck, the lid on the snorkel screws on to prevent that. Also if there is so much back pressure in the gravel bed that the water is coming up out of the lid, the filter needs to be back-flushed! That’s why I don’t like to put my snorkel next to the liner edge though, because eventually it will rise up the snorkel a bit if left unchecked!
They looked like a large aqua block. I thought smalls were what you usually use....
Smells are fine, I have used both. Not really noticed a difference though. Hope you are well!
you advice on where to locate the pump on this system John? thanks
Close to the INTAKE and near water level of intake (dont make the pump “lift” the water on the suction side!
Great vid! one question. Would this system work on say an acre or acre and a half pond? Im sure it have to be much bigger but would it be a solution to clear water?
Yes, we have done some large projects! Our company has built wetlands for ponds as large as 75,000 Square Feet. Stay tuned, we have a job slated for completion this year that is that big and it will be some great content. We have also built wetland filters for multiple other ponds that are 1/2 to 3/4 acres with great success!
what do you do on a very large pond? large! do you still line it?
We do, there are many ways to build but we stick to our process, if you want earth bottom or concrete, we pass on the job-just not a great fit for us. Happy New Year!
Well that was explained extremely well. I gotta watch some more of your videos. Thank you!
really like it but seems the access lid is going to stand out for a bit
Yep, you can disguise it though without too much work!
Where can you buy one of those human size centipedes?
Aquascapeinc.com
Oh man. Now I want to build a water land filter. Can you make a video how you hide the pipes.
I’m working on that one right now :-)
@@KoiAddiction can't wait.
probably a silly question but how does the sediment get trapped in the snorkel? Thanks in advance..
It settles out of suspension into the centipede and the Aquablocks OR it is trapped in the gravel bed where it is consumed!
@@KoiAddiction Awesome thanks for the quick response..
Love this video and product
More to come wild man!
Modern Design Aquascaping Inc. Light my hair on fire 🔥
John, you're a legend. This video series is so helpful.
There seems to be two school of thoughts on bog filters. There's the the Aquascapes approach, which is what you're demonstrating with these enormous centipedes, snorkels, aquablox, and 4' deep with multiple sizes of gravel. And then there seems to be a lot of others building the same thing and having success w/ nothing but slotted PVC in 1' of 3/8" pea stone.
The Aquascapes system is an order of magnitude more complex and expensive. What drove your decision to build this way vs. what seems like a much simpler design w/ the same benefits?
When you get to the point where your filter is clogged and it’s time to clean it out, you’ll understand the value presented by the Aquascape system. We have systems that we installed similar to your second school of thought over a decade ago and they function phenomenally until they don’t. At that point the process of cleaning is so impossible! We even used the centipede unit with multitudes of aggregate over top with no aqua blocks and that worked phenomenally until it was clean out time as well. After many years of trial and error I have made my choice based on functionality- maintainability- and longevity👍🏻 in the long run I believe you get what you pay for and you make your decisions based on current situation and what it makes sense for you to spend at the time🤟🤠
@@KoiAddiction That makes sense. The maintenance procedure for the 12" bogs are to pull the cap(s) on the snorkels and let the pump clear the buried lines. But I guess that doesn't address the gravel itself. Once the gravel is clogged, the only fix is shoveling it out-no way to back flush it. No biggie on a tiny pond. Absolute nightmare on a big one.
Excellent Information! Thanks John.
Thanks for watching bro-ham🤠
Excellent vid 👍 thank you 🍻 would love to add one of these to my pond myself, when I make it larger next year 😃
Well we have you set up to get it right the first time😎👍
Can I use rocks only with the snorkel and centipede and not the aquablox?
You can, we used to. The Aquablocks just make it so much easier to maintain and clean. If you let it get clogged up with no blox you will have to dismantle it to get it clean!
Thank you 🙏🏽
hi.just wondering.wanna ask what happen to the sludge?are the slude just stuck in the centipede or rocks?and let the bacteria consume the sludge?
Consumed by natural processes for the most part. Heavy buildup can be removed by cleaning periodically!
@@KoiAddiction thanks you so much sir.very informative YT channel.
@@KoiAddiction First of all thank you for all information about bilding ponds, it is great! I have a question, is there any video about how to do that periodical wetland (and intake bay) cleaning? And how often it should be done?
Amazing 🐸 You are an exclent Professor
So you are learning then?
Hello John, I enjoyed your video. I have a farm pond, 1/2 acre in size. I want to control the planktonic algae since my dogs swim and this is a natural habitat for wildlife. I have an air max aerator and use natural enzymes from The Pond Guy. The bog filter seems to be a good choice to control the algae but I do not want a water fall. Is it possible to use this set up with a simple feed back into the pond? Thanks for your input.
Yep. We have installed them in pond edge so they are actually part of the pond with no aeration value BUT you must drain down pond to liner level to clean the wetland filter. Only downfall in my opinion. Its more energy efficient but not adding oxygen to the system so make sure dissolved oxygen is good still!
@@KoiAddiction wow thank you for the answer. I wasn’t actually expecting one based on the date of the video and my question today….lol. I will give your office a call to further discuss. I’m very impressed with your videos and would like to invite you to SW Michigan to help me with my pond. Thanks again. I will definitely be in touch.
Im from Michigan! Never built a feature there YET!!
What is the water height in the wetland?
Totally depends on how deep you design it. I have seen it from 6” to 6 feet! Just be sure to do the math right on your liner dimensions. I made mine about 2’ so I can do lilies and the kids can swim in it!
John, how many inches above the gravel should the water level be on a wetland filter?
Hi John,This is exactly the information I was looking for, Thanks! I’m gonna build my first wetland filter in september. And i was wondering, when you use large aquablocks do you need an extension on the snorkel. Or is it good enough to use less stone for the filtration? My koi pond is about 12m3.
You can use the extension if you need it. When we installed our products last week the snorkel was only a couple inches shorter than it needed to be so we just made a ring of stones around it so we can still access later. Depends on how much deeper you’re going
These videos are extremely helpful. I'm sold on the wetland filter and am planning mine.Does the filter pump need to run 24/7, or can I have it on a timer to run 8 hours per day? My pond will be approx 20ft x 20ft and approx 10 to 15 ft deep at the deepest point.
Gotta run all the time. Filter is living and needs a constant supply of oxygen rich water for the filter bed to survive!
Where is it best to place a wetland filter? Thanks.
It doesn’t really matter, for efficiency installing it at the same level as the pond reduces electrical needs. I like to put it in the center of the stream so that the water flow increases as it gets closer and closer to The Pond. That gives a good representation of what happens in nature :-)
@@KoiAddiction thanks for the info, Man! Im planning to build my pond in a month or two.
Love from the philippines.
Great video. Thank You. Any recommendations for a solids handling pump for a smaller bog filter (4ft by 8ft) with a 3 inch riser pipe. Thank You
We use Tsurumi for that!
Does the pond liner go under the centipede/clean out unit?
Yessir!
@@KoiAddiction thanks for all your help. Much appreciated!
Say I build a wetland filter at the top of my project. Can I just use the one pump to feed the wetland filter and have good enough flow to have a waterfall that flows into the pond below? I'm thinking my pond will be 25ish feet long. 10ish feet wide and 3 feet deep at the deep end.
That totally depends on how much water flow you want from your waterfalls. You can always dump out more water on top of the wetland for looks!
Hi John, I really love watching your videos. Videos are Very well explained and making understand all required technicalities.
Great to subscribe your video.
Welcome, glad to have you!
That looks like it's for the size of a lake! I probably need something much smaller for my backyard pond.
A bio-filter that feeds a pond is probably perfect for ya👍🏻
How does water get pulled in?
Hi Jonh, I wanna build a stream so my daughter can play in it. What kind of pump is safe for human to be in the water?
MANY PEOPLE PLAY IN WATERFALLS WITH SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS. I THINK “LEGALLY” IT SHOUD BE AN EXTERNAL BUT THAT BEING SAID, if you have the ground fault circuit / breaker set up properly you should be fine. Consult your local codes and your conscience, I let my grandkids play in my fountains with submersibles but the power is set up properly. I wouldn’t do that for a client without a serious conversation. I am putting externals on my recreational pond.
Thanks for the great video. That there is an 8 x 8 how much does the actual centipede, snorkel, and those boxes cost? I’m in Virginia near Richmond
Aquascapes will quote you prices OR Virginia Water Gardens. Charlie and Nett are amazing peeps!
Just wanted to thank you personally for the knowledge that no doubt took you a long time to acquire. I am building my first waterfall/river and this gives me some great ideas ( I am a farmer and also own 2 gravel pits so I have A LOT of rock to pick from , just the road leading to my parents place has 200 tandem loads of big rocks to pick from )
I like to build my own things so I’m going to attempt to make my own centipede and aquablocks. I’m thinking plastic sewer main pipe with holes drilled and milk crates is essentially the same thing
Is there any reason I shouldn’t attempt this ? Any glaring flaws that I should know about , I’m also a machinist technician with a machine shop on the farm so I’m quite adept at building things ( used to make down hole tooling for the oilfield)
I used to make my own but the time factor, and professional products and knowledge from Aquascapes is enough motivation for me to contribute to the guys who are pushing this industry forward! Good luck with your project ;)
Hi John, I’m planning on building a rec pond in my backyard. I’ve been trying to find info on how large the wetland filter has to be compared to pond water volume. Is there a formula to determine the wetland filter size? Also wondering the same thing in determining wether to do an inlet bay or skimmers. Thanks for the videos they’ve helped a lot.
Yes there is a plan for general guidelines in the new Aquascape catalog page 35 or aquascapeinc.com/pond-filters - You can also reach out to their tech department for personalized design help😎
I dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know of a trick to get back into an instagram account?
I somehow forgot the login password. I would love any tricks you can offer me
@Keaton Byron instablaster :)
@Fletcher Jax Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process now.
Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Fletcher Jax it worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thank you so much you really help me out !
I moved to a new place and decided to build a pond with this wetland technique. Works great and water stays clear! I also use bacteria and barley pellets, but the wetland really does the job!
Love to hear it!! We are loving ours too, my wAter is crystal clear❤️❤️
Hey John, I'd just like to say I appreciate all of your informational content. I'm looking to create a pond in the future, as it'd been a long term goal, and your videos provide almost all the information I require. Clear and concise, straight to the point, I'd just like to say I appreciate it, keep doing what you do! I plan on doing all the work myself as a long term project with zero contractors, doing all the research I need myself. Purely for the satisfaction of I did all the work, I'd have my lifetime to forever appreciate it at my forever home. Any advise you may have that you wouldn't think about? Thanks, again!
Just keep watching, I intend to share everything I know ;)
Have you had any customers use their bog to grow food? If so, what do they grow?
Yes, anything that is happy in water will grow there. Melons, cranberries, etc. ;)
I'm not finding any info on the products - where to find them, how to order, how much are they?
Aquascapeinc.com
Can we put Banananna Ears in this here type filter?
Yea man you cat put elephant trees in there too!
@@KoiAddiction Awesome
Thank you guys again. I know we are not family but family, Love you guys. This thing rocks, it was clear that night. ITS AMAZING at how it works. First time since the pond has been in that when it rains our pond doesn't get cloudy or muddy when it rains.
Anyone who ever is thinking about a pond, YOU HAVE TO GET THIS FILTER SYSTEM, holy cow is it great.
Love ya Brother
hi John, love this video. how to order the pipes and what is the name of all material used?
Materials are all from Aquascape inc in St. Charles Illinois USA. You can contact them for your nearest distributor!
Wow! I've seen that stuff before, but this is the first time seeing outside a pond from the side. It's WAY bigger than I realized.
Im trying to make video of the install this week, it turned out great👍😎
how much cobble/gravel of the 3 sizes do i use(in terms of depth)?
Stay tuned, I’m uploading the next video for Saturday morning! We built a beautiful wetland and it is my next 2 episodes😎
Great video Adams!!! 👍👍
Thanks man, hows life out there?
Well done!
I’ll keep making them if you keep watching them :-)
Hi,
Nature converted my 15000 swimming pool into a fish pond. 2015 was the last summer for swimming. In 2016 I put 30 goldfish. The next year we had over hundred. I added bass, blue gill and catfish. It is currently shaded half cover suspended and 3 - 3 by 8 floating islands. A 100 gallon tank with matrix filtration and bio balls with a 3 ft waterfall drop. I want to build a biofilteralong the side of shallow end. The surface area of pond is 800 square. Don't know where to start my planning.
Wetland filter series will teach you how. Size at 25%-35% of the surface area of the pond. Aquascapes will design the filter for you or I will consult with you for a “Small” donation to our foundation. It’s not to complex of a thing to do. Call us to schedule a consult @ 865-995-1234
@@KoiAddiction thank you. Little bit of a challenge because of buried wires. Thinking of building above ground along edge of pool and up against a bank. I'll check with aquascapes.
Hi, I’m looking to build a (roughly) 20x20 pond with a bod filter, it will have a stream on one side leading in to it but it would be for looks only. What pump/pumps do you recommend for the big filter circulation? Thanks in advance.
That would depend on what you intend to use The Pond for, and also elevation etc. Many factors going to selecting the proper pump, I would need more details - but external pump would be my choice for a swimming pond (artesian pro) is the brand I prefer, and there are a multitude of submersibles that I select from if I submersible pump is the way to go.
@@KoiAddiction perfect thanks a lot. It will be a swimming pond, and I’m on pretty level ground so there won’t be much in the way of lift, except the decorative stream.
In a lot of the videos it looks like you also put some small pea gravel on as a top layer. Is that right?
We do sometimes but it isn’t necessary. 3/4” - 1 1/2” is a fine size for the top layer. Sometimes we have a hard time getting it though...
John - I have a question about the centipede. How many GPH can a 6’ section handle. I am trying to determine how much water I can effectively push through the my wetland filter. I think the pond will be 15,000-18,000 gallons. So the other question is how do I properly size the Wetland Filter? Is there a way to calculate that or “rule of thumb”? I always think more filter is better and less hassle in the long run. I really want to know how big it needs to be for that many gallons of water and I can up size if I want or have room to.
** One more question - we have a winter here with pretty strong freezes - what do you do with the wetland filter in the winter?
Thanks again. - Love your videos!
John H - Grand Junction CO.
Watch My Saturday video this week, we are beginning install on a filter and I have sizing information in there. 2000 gallons per hour flow per centipede, I would check with Aquascapes on the winterization aspect, I have no need to do that here so I have no experience. I know my friends in New York pull the pumps and drain the plumbing on the wetlands, I’m not sure that any water removal is necessary? We installed a beautiful filter two weeks ago and I am making a two-part video about that process and trying to make it my best educational production on wetland filtration yet!
Thank you for the flow info! Do you have any contact information for the folks in New York? I think on the winterization I will pump out the sump each fall and refill with fresh water so that the system is pretty clean in the spring. I don’t think leaving a long of sediment in the system over the winter is a great idea. I think the biological activity comes pretty close to stopping. Thanks again.
Hey awesome video! Already looking forward to the next video!
Me too, just shot it last week ;)
Hi John, Thanks for the great video. Lots of useful information. We are in the middle of construction of a new pond. I can find a million videos on constructing a wetland filter but I can't find the first one on how to clean the system in the future. It's supposed to be easy but what is involved? Do you have to have a specialized pump? Will a regular submersible sump pump work? Does it need to be a sewage pump because of the heavy fish poop? Does the pump suck out all the sludge in the centipede? So many questions that a google search will not answer! I would appreciate any information! Thanks, Sondra
We use a solids handling pump for cleaning. Its time consuming but simple. Drop it down the snorkel and pump the water back down into the wetland until its super nasty and then pump it out. Add a bit more pond water and repeat. Simple to clean and biological is still intact!
Thanks for the response. I appreciate your help. How do you estimate how many gallons your pond has if it is an irregular shape with different elevations and a cave? I'm assuming I need to know that before purchasing a pump. Thanks again!
wow that good i dea i love it thanks for sharing this naby i will try it soon
How to video coming next😎
John, have you ever tried to cut a hole on the top of the snorkel modul and let water come into the wetland that way? So you don't need a check valve or breather pipe? Also it's easier for the pump to release water into a big tube than go underwater in a 2" tube. What do you think? Thank you!
The purpose of pumping it into the end of the centipede is that it allows the water to have a greatly reduced velocity. The slowing water will drop debris into the bottom. I’m not sure if the other way would do that as effectively or not, give her a try and let me know if it works :-)
@@KoiAddiction thank you for the answer! I think I'll also stick to the normal way. Tomorrow I'll finish with the wetland filter digging. I won't use a centipede module at all. I'll dig a trench in the bottom of the wetland and simple put 6 heavy duty plastic pallets over it. In one end I'll install my cleanout pipe and in the other end the 2" flexi pipe goes under the plastic pallet. I'll share a video with you when it's completed. Big thanks for your instruction videos!
Love the video, I laughed at your car references. It’s good to see it out of a pond it gives a good idea of just how big it is
I miss chatting with you hope you’re well😎
Hey John,
Justy wanted to say that for the video.
Say what?
Hi John one more question. I noticed on some videos I am not sure if it was yours or what I noticed some have the wetland snorkel cleanout below the waterline and some have it above. Which way is correct. Is there a reason some installs put the snorkel below the waterline?
Its fine either way. Make sure it’s not letting water out and avoiding filtration!
@@KoiAddiction Thanks John.
Where the pump goes???
In the skimmer or pond, no pump in a wetland filter :-)
@@KoiAddiction Ok thanks
Fab info👍 thank you. Really fancy adding theirs to my pond when I make it bigger next year 🍻
You building your own?
@@KoiAddiction yes I will be 😬 but looking and learning all I can 👍
M
Amazing video
Thank you
I’m making the next episode for Saturday morning, be there or be square :-)
Thanks for this John G. You are awesome!
Nomworries thanks for watching!
I love your videos! I would love to train to learn to install these. I'm in Indiana and will travel to learn.
We will let you come out and help on some jobs. We start construction back up in May/ June. If y0u really want to come out give us a yell!
@@KoiAddiction yes ty so much i will contact you guys for sure. I have saved your number thanks I look forward to talking with you!
Keep up the great work John and crew!!
Thanks, we def will!
Can we get this in india
I am not sure, contact Aquascape Inc. In St. Charles, Illinois USA!
How do I contact .
Aquascapeinc.Com or 1-866-USPONDS
I am looking forward to building a up flow wetland filter for my new pond. it will be 10 feet wide 30 feet long and 3 foot deep I am thinking 20 to 30% of surface square foot of the pond size to be the size of the filter but i am not sure how deep to make it I have seen videos saying 3 foot deep to others saying any thing over 2 foot deep is a waste of liner. How deep would you make it ??
my wife likes the idea of having it full of plants
I do 2 feet of aggregate based on my measurements the depth of the water over top of that is irrelevant. Depends what you want to use it for I’ve seen people with 6 inches of water on top of the wetland and I’ve seen people put the wetland in the bottom of their swim pond. The only thing that’s important is that you feed from the bottom and the water is oxygen rich :-) plants are a bonus but are not necessary. Most of the time the whole we dig for a wetland is between Five and 6 feet deep by the time you get to the very bottom of the excavation. I have three videos in my water feature design serious on wetland filters that will show you start to finish how we build one.
my idea is to build it next to the pond 3 foot deep 1 foot of 2-3 inch stone 1 foot 3/4 to i 1/2 stone and a little of gravel on top of that and 1 foot or a little less of water then have a 2 foot section that over flows the filter back in to the pond I have a aqua scape 1000 skimmer and a 22” spillway to make a small water fall return from the skimmer. and a separate pump to feed the up flow filter. One thing I am having a hard time with is do you just put the pipe from the pump to the up flow filter just run it out of the pond and over the berm and back down in to the up flow filter I didnt get a clear Idea how that was done in the video series. Thank you for the help :)
Yes the water from the pump feed will just run over top of the berm and down into the end of your centipede. You will then have small aqua blocks over top of the centipede those are 9 1/2 inches thick I believe, you will then have your 2 feet of gravel, and then however much standing water on top. Don’t forget to put a T in to the line as it goes over the berm and a small piece of 1 inch pipe with a ball valve so that you have something to break the siphon. Just allow that water to spell out on top of the wetland.
Thank you :) I love watching your videos
Great. Explanation,,,,
I hope it was enlightening?
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it😎✌️
Good sales men
We aim to teach!!
awesome
Making next episode for Saturday, stay tuned!
excellent video, thank you.
Glad to know you are enjoying the videos!